NVIDIA holds patent on GPU Tesselation.

Wreckage

Banned
Jul 1, 2005
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http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi.../6906716&RS=PN/6906716

Integrated tessellator in a graphics processing unit

I wonder how this affects what is currently being done with DX11?

This thread has drifted off topic, not that it was ever really on topic. I see no real discussion here; just accusations of trolling. dajeepster, v8envy, and Idontcare have provided all the necessary commentary to show that the OP for the most part is much ado about nothing. -Anandtech Senior Moderator DrPizza
 

manutdc

Member
Apr 20, 2008
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Don't you think that, if there really was something there giving NVIDIA some advantage over ATI/AMD that they'd already have thought of it, considering the HD4000 series had hardware tessellation?
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
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I like Wreckage's sig. Authoritarian describes nV perfectly these days...well they're trying to anyway. :)
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
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The abstract sounds way too generic. You'll probably need to read the details to learn what exactly NV owns.

BTW has anyone seen this? Apple beats MS/Intel/AMD/NV combined when it comes to creativity!
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,663
6,233
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I own the Patent for Internet Trolling. You're monthly License Fee is $50(US), you are currently in Arrears.
 

dajeepster

Golden Member
Apr 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: Wreckage
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi.../6906716&RS=PN/6906716

Integrated tessellator in a graphics processing unit

I wonder how this affects what is currently being done with DX11?

here are the main claims from the patent:
What is claimed is:
1. An integrated circuit disposed on a single chip and having a graphics hardware pipeline for graphics processing, the integrated circuit comprising: (a) a tessellation module adapted to receive data for tessellation; (b) a transform module for transforming data received from the tessellation module from a first space to a second space; (c) a lighting module for performing lighting operations on data received from the transform module; and (d) a rasterizer for rendering data received from the lighting module; wherein the integrated circuit is operable to tessellate, transform, light, and render data.

11. A method for graphics processing in a single integrated circuit, comprising: (a) tessellating data; (b) transforming the data from a first space to a second space; (c) lighting the data; and (d) rendering the data; wherein the data is tessellated, transformed, lighted, and rendered on the single integrated circuit.
 

spankure

Junior Member
May 6, 2007
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Great for Nvidia, they have a paper.

Ati released a working card with tesselation 8 years ago.
 

v8envy

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2002
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Both companies own patents in use by the others. Which is why every global company has cross-licensing agreements with their competitors. Intel uses AMD patents, AMD uses Intel patents, NV and ATI couldn't build anything more complex than a basic VGA card without massive cross-licensing with dozens of other companies.

So what exactly are you trying to get at here, OP?
 

lavaheadache

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2005
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Originally posted by: v8envy
Both companies own patents in use by the others. Which is why every global company has cross-licensing agreements with their competitors. Intel uses AMD patents, AMD uses Intel patents, NV and ATI couldn't build anything more complex than a basic VGA card without massive cross-licensing with dozens of other companies.

So what exactly are you trying to get at here, OP?

You know damn well what he is trying to get at.... And no I'm not yelling at you , lol
 

Idontcare

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
21,110
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Anybody who works in patent law or has patents themselves knows that there are as many ways to skin a cat as there are business entities trying to skin that cat for a living.

Each business entity will at a minimum invent their own way of skinning the cat (called "carving out an IP space") which can be covered by their own patent portfolio if for nothing else than to use as leverage in cross-licensing deals to gain access to the patents that allow for much easier skinning of cats.

It should come as no surprise that NV has tessellation patents, AMD will have tessellation patents too, as will Intel and anyone else interested in being in the graphics business.

The difference between all the patents is that no two will be alike, they will differ in terms of their covered implementations, methods, and practices...and as such some will cover methods that are easier to implement or produce superior results, etc than the others.

Sometimes companies will file patents that cover/overlap on nearly the same IP space, that's when lawyers get involved to sort out who actually should have been awarded the patent if in fact the conflicting patent claims made it past the patent reviewers. Even though these events dominate the headlines so to you and us it might seem like it this happens all the time, the reality is that conflicting patent awards rarely happen. (but when they do, and the sparks fly, it can make for spectacular news stories)
 

ShadowOfMyself

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2006
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Thread translation by yours truly:

"Crap, I saw the Unigine DX11 benchmark in the other thread and almost jizzed my pants. I cant believe my beloved Nvidia doesnt have a card out capable to rendering that. In any way, Ill spread a bit more FUD to buy them some time."
 

crazylegs

Senior member
Sep 30, 2005
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I love how wreckage has gone too far, on soo many occasions that he is now jsut a laughing stock of these forums!

Keep up the good work dude, ppl associated with NV must loveeeee how much awesome work you do for them...
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
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FUD post is FUD.

Obviously both nVidia and ATI/AMD have portfolios of patents, as does MS. No, this patent does not mean there is something to fear from buying a non-nVidia graphics card.
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
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SHIT dave, I wish that I had read your post 3 minutes earlier. I read wreckage's post and immediately cancelled my 5850 order due to the fear of tessalation patent violation, the uncertainty of whether nvidia will ever come out with one, and the doubt of same.
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
FUD post is FUD.

Obviously both nVidia and ATI/AMD have portfolios of patents, as does MS. No, this patent does not mean there is something to fear from buying a non-nVidia graphics card.
If you keep this substantiated logic up, some people are going to lose their wood.
 

MegaWorks

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
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Wreckage man dude!!! Did you work for ATI before getting fired. I mean I've never seen someone hate ATI as much as you!
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
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i've never really heard of or noticed wreckage before all this 5870/fermi stuff, but i'm never going to view anymore topics he start again.
they are absolute wastes of time.